How to Boost Your Car’s Trade-In Value

How to Boost Your Car’s Trade-In Value

Boosting your car’s trade-in value is all about taking good care of it so that it’s as close to like-new condition as possible. Here are some of the ways that you can do that:

·        Keep updated on routine maintenance

Your vehicle’s maintenance record is one of the major factors in determining its trade-in value. So, you’ll want to stay current on your car’s routine maintenance needs. Check your owner’s manual for your specific vehicles’ recommended maintenance schedule. At minimum, you should visit the service center for an oil change every 7,500-10,000 miles, or roughly every 6-12 months.

·        Use genuine original equipment manufacturer (OEM)

OEM parts keep your vehicle built to factory specifications, which can help to boost its trade-in value. OEM parts come directly from the manufacturer and are actually what are installed on your vehicle in the factory. Our service center uses OEM parts for all repairs. We also use factory-approved paints to cover up any dents, dings, or chips.

·        Avoid permanent customizations

While it can be fun to add a personal touch to your vehicle, you’ll want to avoid any accessories, customizations, or other add-ons that permanently alter your car. If you decide to customize, make sure that any changes are temporary and can be removed.

·        Keep your mileage low

Driving your vehicle more than average may cause more-than-average wear-and-tear, which may negatively affect your car’s trade-in value. The average driver travels around 15,000-20,000 miles per year. If possible, try to keep your mileage at or below that number.

·        Detail your vehicle regularly

Before having your vehicle’s trade-in value appraised, make sure to thoroughly clean the interior. Vacuum up any crumbs and clean out any items that you may have been storing in your vehicle. It’s expected that the new car smell will fade over time, so you may want to also have your vehicle professionally detailed regularly to deep clean the cabin.

What Is My Car’s Trade-In Value?

Taking all these steps ahead of time can help you improve some of the areas that matter most when determining your vehicle’s trade-in value. Some of those factors are:

• Make
• Model
• Year
• Standard equipment
• Mileage
• Vehicle condition
• Maintenance history

If you want a sneak peek at how your car is currently valued, you can use an online tool to value your trade through your dealer’s website or an organization like Kelley Blue Book®. Simply answer a few prompts about your vehicle and these tools will provide an estimate of your car’s value based on similar vehicles in the current market.

You may also want to get a copy of your vehicle history report (VHR) from a reporting organization like CARFAX® to check that you’re up-to-date on your maintenance records.